Bhagavata Purana

श्रीमित्रविन्दोवाच। यो मां स्वयंवर उपेत्य विजित्य भूपान्। निन्ये श्वयूथगं इवात्मबलिं द्विपारिः। भ्रातॄंश्च मेऽपकुरुतः स्वपुरं श्रियौकस्। तस्यास्तु मेऽनुभवमङ्घ्र्यवनेजनत्वम्

Śrī Mitravindā said: He came to my svayaṃvara, defeated the kings, and carried me away like an elephant seizing his own mate from a herd. He drove away my brothers and brought me to His own city, the abode of fortune. May I have the privilege of serving His feet.

श्रीसत्योवाच। सप्तोक्षणोऽतिबलवीर्यसुतीक्ष्णशृङ्गान्। पित्रा कृतान्क्षितिपवीर्यपरीक्षणाय। तान्वीरदुर्मदहनस्तरसा निगृह्य। क्रीडन्बबन्ध ह यथा शिशवोऽजतोकान्

Śrī Satyā said: My father, to test the strength and valor of the kings, had seven fierce, sharp-horned bulls. He, the destroyer of the pride of heroes, subdued them with ease and bound them as a child binds young calves.

य इत्थं वीर्यशुल्कां मां। दासीभिश्चतुरङ्गिणीम्। पथि निर्जित्य राजन्यान्। निन्ये तद्दास्यमस्तु मे

He, who thus won me, given as the price of valor, along with my maidservants and army, by defeating the kings on the road—may I become His servant.

श्रीभद्रोवाच। पिता मे मातुलेयाय स्वयमाहूय दत्तवान्। कृष्णे कृष्णाय तच्चित्तामक्षौहिण्या सखीजनैः

Śrī Bhadrā said: My father, inviting my maternal uncle, gave me to Kṛṣṇa, the dark one, whose mind was set on Him, along with an army and companions.

अस्य मे पादसंस्पर्शो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि। कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणाया येन तच्छ्रेय आत्मनः

May I have the touch of His feet in every birth, for by that, one who is wandering in the cycle of karma attains the highest good for the soul.

श्रीलक्ष्मणोवाच। ममापि राज्ञ्यच्युतजन्मकर्म श्रुत्वा मुहुर्नारदगीतमास ह। चित्तं मुकुन्दे किल पद्महस्तया वृतः सुसम्मृश्य विहाय लोकपान्

Śrī Lakṣmaṇā said: Hearing again and again from Nārada the stories of the king’s birth and deeds, my mind was firmly drawn to Mukunda, the lotus-handed one, abandoning even the guardians of the world.

ज्ञात्वा मम मतं साध्वि पिता दुहितृवत्सलः। बृहत्सेन इति ख्यातस्तत्रोपायमचीकरत्

Knowing my mind, my father, the affectionate Bṛhatsena, devised a means for my marriage.

यथा स्वयंवरे राज्ञि मत्स्यः पार्थेप्सया कृतः। अयं तु बहिराच्छन्नो दृश्यते स जले परम्

As in the svayaṃvara of the princess, a fish was set up for the sake of the Pāṇḍava’s desire, so here, one was concealed outside but could be seen in the water below.

श्रुत्वैतत्सर्वतो भूपा आययुर्मत्पितुः पुरम्। सर्वास्त्रशस्त्रतत्त्वज्ञाः सोपाध्यायाः सहस्रशः

Hearing this, kings from all sides, skilled in the use of all weapons and missiles, came by the thousands with their teachers to my father’s city.

पित्रा सम्पूजिताः सर्वे यथावीर्यं यथावयः। आददुः सशरं चापं वेद्धुं पर्षदि मद्धियः

All were honored by my father according to their strength and age; those who desired me took up bows with arrows to shoot in the assembly.

आदाय व्यसृजन्केचित्सज्यं कर्तुमनीश्वराः। आकोष्ठं ज्यां समुत्कृष्य पेतुरेकेऽमुनाहताः

Some, taking up the bow, tried to string it but were unable; some, drawing the bowstring to their chest, fell, struck by it.

सज्यं कृत्वापरे वीरा मागधाम्बष्ठचेदिपाः। भीमो दुर्योधनः कर्णो नाविदंस्तदवस्थितिम्

Other heroes, like the kings of Magadha, Ambashṭha, and Cedi, as well as Bhīma, Duryodhana, and Karṇa, managed to string the bow but did not understand the true challenge.

मत्स्याभासं जले वीक्ष्य ज्ञात्वा च तदवस्थितिम्। पार्थो यत्तोऽसृजद्बाणं नाच्छिनत्पस्पृशे परम्

Seeing the image of a fish in the water and understanding its position, Arjuna carefully released his arrow; it did not cut, but merely touched the target.

राजन्येषु निवृत्तेषु भग्नमानेषु मानिषु। भगवान्धनुरादाय सज्यं कृत्वाथ लीलया

When the kings had withdrawn, their pride broken, the Lord, taking up the bow, strung it effortlessly.

तस्मिन्सन्धाय विशिखं मत्स्यं वीक्ष्य सकृज्जले। छित्त्वेषुणापातयत्तं सूर्ये चाभिजिति स्थिते २६ अभिजित्। दिवि दुन्दुभयो नेदुर्जयशब्दयुता भुवि। देवाश्च कुसुमासारान्मुमुचुर्हर्षविह्वलाः

Aiming the arrow at that target, seeing the fish just once in the water, he cut it down with his arrow and made it fall, while the sun stood in the Abhijit constellation.

तद्रङ्गमाविशमहं कलनूपुराभ्यां। पद्भ्यां प्रगृह्य कनकोज्वलरत्नमालाम् । नूत्ने निवीय परिधाय च कौशिकाग्र्ये। सव्रीडहासवदना कवरीधृतस्रक्

Then I entered the arena, my anklets tinkling softly, holding a radiant golden garland of gems in my hands, dressed in a new silk garment, with a bashful smile on my face, my hair adorned with a floral wreath.

उन्नीय वक्त्रमुरुकुन्तलकुण्डलत्विड्। गण्डस्थलं शिशिरहासकटाक्षमोक्षैः। राज्ञो निरीक्ष्य परितः शनकैर्मुरारेर्। अंसेऽनुरक्तहृदया निदधे स्वमालाम्

Lifting my face, with large earrings shining and cheeks glowing, casting gentle, smiling glances, I slowly looked around at the kings, and with a heart devoted to Murāri, I placed my garland on his shoulder.

तावन्मृदङ्गपटहाः शङ्खभेर्यानकादयः। निनेदुर्नटनर्तक्यो ननृतुर्गायका जगुः

At that moment, drums, kettledrums, conches, trumpets, and other instruments resounded; dancers danced and singers sang.

एवं वृते भगवति मयेशे नृपयूथपाः। न सेहिरे याज्ञसेनि स्पर्धन्तो हृच्छयातुराः

When the Lord, the master of Māyā, was thus chosen by me, the chiefs of men, burning with desire, could not tolerate the choice of Draupadī and competed with each other.

मां तावद्रथमारोप्य हयरत्नचतुष्टयम्। शार्ङ्गमुद्यम्य सन्नद्धस्तस्थावाजौ चतुर्भुजः

He placed me on his chariot, yoked with four excellent horses, took up the Śārṅga bow, donned his armor, and stood in the battle with four arms.

दारुकश्चोदयामास काञ्चनोपस्करं रथम्। मिषतां भूभुजां राज्ञि मृगाणां मृगराडिव

Dāruka drove the chariot, adorned with golden fittings, as the kings looked on, just as the king of beasts carries off his prey before the other animals.

तेऽन्वसज्जन्त राजन्या निषेद्धुं पथि केचन। संयत्ता उद्धृतेष्वासा ग्रामसिंहा यथा हरिम्

Some of the kings pursued on the road to block him, armed and with drawn bows, like village lions chasing Hari.

ते शार्ङ्गच्युतबाणौघैः कृत्तबाह्वङ्घ्रिकन्धराः। निपेतुः प्रधने केचिदेके सन्त्यज्य दुद्रुवुः

Struck by volleys of arrows from the Śārṅga bow, their arms, legs, and necks severed, some fell in the battle, while others, abandoning the fight, fled.

ततः पुरीं यदुपतिरत्यलङ्कृतां। रविच्छदध्वजपटचित्रतोरणाम्। कुशस्थलीं दिवि भुवि चाभिसंस्तुतां। समाविशत्तरणिरिव स्वकेतनम्

Then the Lord of the Yadus entered the city, splendidly decorated with sun-shaded banners and painted gateways, celebrated in heaven and on earth, like a ship reaching its own harbor.

पिता मे पूजयामास सुहृत्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान्। महार्हवासोऽलङ्कारैः शय्यासनपरिच्छदैः

My father honored his friends, relatives, and kin with precious garments, ornaments, beds, seats, and other gifts.

दासीभिः सर्वसम्पद्भिर्भटेभरथवाजिभिः। आयुधानि महार्हाणि ददौ पूर्णस्य भक्तितः

With maidservants, all kinds of wealth, soldiers, chariots, and horses, he gave valuable weapons with full devotion.

आत्मारामस्य तस्येमा वयं वै गृहदासिकाः। सर्वसङ्गनिवृत्त्याद्धा तपसा च बभूविम

We, the maidservants of his household, became so by the power of true austerity and complete detachment, serving him who is self-satisfied.

महिष्य ऊचुः। भौमं निहत्य सगणं युधि तेन रुद्धा। ज्ञात्वाथ नः क्षितिजये जितराजकन्याः। निर्मुच्य संसृतिविमोक्षमनुस्मरन्तीः। पादाम्बुजं परिणिनाय य आप्तकामः

The queens said: Having slain Bhauma and his followers in battle, he freed us, the princesses conquered by him, and remembering his lotus feet, the fulfiller of all desires, he accepted us in marriage, granting us liberation from worldly bondage.

न वयं साध्वि साम्राज्यं स्वाराज्यं भौज्यमप्युत। वैराज्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं च आनन्त्यं वा हरेः पदम्

We do not desire sovereignty, lordship, rulership, or even the supreme position of Brahmā, nor the endless abode of Hari.